Vacuum operated bleeder control



Dec. 13, 1960 H. w. MGcLAlN 2,964,055

VACUUM OPERATED BLEEDER CONTROL Filed April 25, 195e VACUUM OPERATED BLEEDER CONTROL Harry W. McClain, 5460 El Parque, Long Beach, Calif.

Filed Apr. 25, 1958, Ser. No. 730,881

6 Claims. (Cl. 137-483) This invention relates to a vacuum operated bleeder control whereby the varying vacuum in the intake manifold of an internal combustion engine, or the like, will activate a control to operate certain elements of the engine, such as the carburetor, overdrives and the like.

An object of my invention is to provide a novel vacuum operated bleeder control in which a control rod or post is caused to move for the purpose of controlling a valve, the post being actuated by the varying vacuum in the intake manifold of the internal combustion engine to which the bleeder may be attached.

Another object of my invention is to provide a novel vacuum operated bleeder control of the character stated, in which the control post is mounted between two iexible diaphragms wherein the chamber adjacent one ilexible diaphragm is constantly open to atmospheric pressure through an adjustable orifice, and wherein the amount of air admitted to the chamber can be adjusted to suit the requirements of the bleeder control.

Another object of my invention is to provide a novel vacuum operated bleeder control of the character stated, in which the control will function with the same accuracy and facility at all altitudes, due to the fact that the amount of vacuum on one side of both of the diaphragms will be relatively the same irrespective of the altitude at which the engine is operating.

Other objects, advantages and features of invention may appear from the accompanying drawing, the subjoined detailed description and the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of my vacuum operated bleeder control.

Figure 2 is `a transverse sectional view taken on line 2 2 of Figure l.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional View of the bleeder control valve and the electrical contacts mounted thereon.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional View of the bleeder control valve and housing.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, it is understood that my vacuum operated Vbleeder control can be used in connection with the low speed metering system of a carburetor for the purpose of de-activating that low speed metering system whenever Ithe throttle is closed, or in any other device where an air control is needed or required, or where an electrical switch may be employed, such as an electrically actuated overdrive on vehicles.

My invention consists of a lower housing 1 and an upper housing 2, the lower housing 1 having a transverse flexible diaphragm 3 therein which divides this housing into chambers 4 and 5. The upper housing 2 is provided with a transverse flexible diaphragm 6 extending transversely across this housing and dividing the same into chambers 7 and 8. A cylinder 9 extends between the housings 1 and 2 and is ixedly secured to both of the housings, thus providing a spacer and mounting for these housings. A post is slidably mounted within the cylinder 9 and this post is tixedly attached to tate l arent the diaphragm 3 at its lower end and to the diaphragm 6 at its upper end. It is thus obvious that as the diaphragms 3 and 6 ilex upwardly and downwardly the post 10 will be similarly moved. A nipple 11 extends into the chamber 4 and a hose or pipe 12 extends from this nipple to the intake manifold of an internal combustion engine (not shown). A relatively small metering port 13 in the nipple r11 connects the nipple and the pipe 12 for the purpose of somewhat reducing the ow of air into the pipe 12, as will be further described. A nipple 14 extends into the chamber 8 and a pipe or tube 15 extends -irom this nipple to the same intake manifold of the engine as the pipe 12 previously described. Thus the chambers 4 and 8 are both connected to the same vacuum source and the rise or fall of the vacuum in the intake manifold of the engine will aiect both chambers in amounts inversely proportional to the areas of the diaphragms 3 and 6. An increase in lthe vacuum would aiect the smaller diaphragm 6 to a greater extent than the larger diaphragm 3, thus causing the valve 25 to move in an opening direction. The restriction 113 would slow down lthe action of the vacuum on the large diaphragm 3 so that the smaller diaphragm 6 would be the first to function. The vacuum increase is thus momentarily greater on the smaller diaphragm 6 and the valve 25 'would move upwardly.

It will Ibe noted that the diaphragm 3 is larger in `area than the diaphragm 6 and, consequently, there will be a tendency to pull the' post 10 downwardly due to the greater force which is exerted in the chamber 4 under the same amount of vacuum in both chambers 4 and 8. This tendency to pull the post 10 downwardly and overcome the upward pull of the chamber 8 is regulated in the following manner: A fitting 16 extends into the chamber 4 and ythis tting is provided with a small bleed port 17 in the side thereof. An adjusting nut 18 is threaded into the fitting 16 and can be moved over the port 17 to adjust the size of this port opening. The port 17, being open to atmosphere, will constantly bleed a small amount of air into the chamber 4 to thus reduce Ithe pull of the vacuum on that same chamber. By adjusting the screw 18 it is possible to compensate for the size of the chamber 4 relative to the size of the chamber 8, and also it is possible to position the diaphragm 3 within the housing 1 and for the purpose of positioning a valve, as will be subsequently described. A set screw 19 extends through the bottom wall of the chamber 4 and the bottom of the post Ibutts against this set screw to also limit the total downward movement of the post.

As thus far described, the screw 18 can be adjusted to vary the size of the port 17 and thus position the diaphragm 3 within the housing 1 under conditions of vacuum in chambers 4 and 8. Also if the vacuum in the .intake manifold of the engine varies due to altitude, this changed vacuum will `be effective in both chambers -4 and 8 in the same proportion as before the change occurred and the adjusting screw 18 does not have to be altered because of an altitude change. A bleed hole Z0 to atmosphere is provided in the chamber 7 and a similar -bleed hole 21 is provided in the chamber 5 so `that one side of the diaphragms 3 and 6 are open to atmosphere and so that the vacuum from the intake manifold can `control the movement of these diaphragms. A tubular valve housing 22 screws into the bottom wall of the housing 2 and this threaded connection permits -the valve housing 22 to be adjusted relative to the housing 2. A valve seat Z3 is provided adjacent the lower end of the valve housing 22 and this seat is positioned immediately above a chamber 24 in the bottom of the valve housing. A valve 25 is slidably mounted in the valve V housing 22 and this valve projects into the chamber 7'.

A finger 26 is secured at one end to the valve 25 and i Patented Dec. 13, 1960 l at the other end to the post so that the valve 25 moves vertically with the post '10 and within the valve housing 22. The lower end of the valve 25 is adapted to rest on the seat 23 in one position of the valve and can |be moved oftr of that seat as the valve is pulled upwardly by movement of the post 10. A pipe V27 extends into one side of the chamber 24, and this pipe is also connected to the same vacuum source as the pipes 12 and 15, that is, it is connected to the intake manifold of the engine. A second pipe 28 extends to the low speed metering control of a carburetor, or to any other device where the air control is needed or required. Such a device could be a Control Mechanism for Fuel Gasitiers, as disclosed in my Patent No. 2,815,013, dated December 3, 1957. An bleed port 29 is Aarranged in the valve housing 22 above the seat 23. Thus when the valve 25 is raised oif of its seat the air lbleed 29 will break or reduce the vacuum in the pipe 28, thereby cancelling the vacuum control of this device and the vacuum control is not activated until the valve 25 is pulled downwardly onto the seat 23.

When the vacuum rises in the intake manifold, such as when the throttle valve is closed, the chamber 8 will momentarily pull the diaphragm 6 and 4the post 10 upwardly since the vacuum connection to chamber 4 is restricted and this cham-ber is not bled to atmosphere. The smaller size of Ithe chamber 8 will overcome the opposite pull in the chamber 4, due to the fact that the vacuum connection to chamber 4 is restricted and cha-mber 4 is lbled to atmosphere through the port 17 and, consequently, the variation of vacuum in the chamber 4 is delayed.

Under substantially low vacuumiconditions in the intake manifold, such as when the throttle valve is partly or enti-rely open, the air bleeding through the port 17 will reduce the vacuum in the chamber 4. However, this reduced vacuum in the chamber 4 will still permit the diaphragm 3 to ex downwardly, due to the larger area of the diaphragm 3 than the diaphragm 6. Consequently, the post 10 will be pulled downwardly under low vacuum conditions as well as high vacuum conditions in the intake manifold and this, in turn, seats the valve 25 on its seat 23 and closing the port 29 to the chamber 24. The vacuum in the pipe 28 is at its maximum and corresponds to the vacuum in the intake manifold of the engine. When the throttle is closed, for example, when coasting downhill or approaching a stop, then the vacuum will increase in the intake manifold and this increased manifold vacuum will be effective in the chamber 8 and will cause the diaphragm 6 to flex upwardly, due to the fact that the vacuum in the chamber 4 varies but little even though the vacuum in =the intake manifold varies substantially. This is because of the air bleed 17. With the increased vacuum in the intake manifold actuating the diaphragm 6 the valve 25 will be pulled upwardly from its seat 23, permitting the port 29 to bleed the chamber 24 and thus reducing the vacuum in the pipe 28. Under this last named condition the low speed metering system or the pressure regulator or a similar device is inactive. Thus the size of the port 17 is of importance, due to the fact that this port must bleed suicient air into the chamber 4 to maintain that cham-ber under a vacuum which will not vary greatly, irrespective of the rise and fall of vacuum in the intake manifold.

In Fig. 3 I have shown a valve structure similar to the valve 25 in the valve housing 22, etc.; however, in this arrangement the valve housing 30 is provided with a valve 31 therein which is moved relative to the seat 32 in the same manner as previously described. An air chamber 33 at the lower end of the housing 30 has the pipes or tubes 27-23 extended into the same, as previously described, and also the bleed port 34 is arranged within the wall of the housing 30 above the seat 32 for the same purpose as previously described In this coll- F struction, however, a tip 35 extends downwardly from the valve 31 and this tip is provided `with contacts 36 on the bottom thereof. These contacts are moved relative to electrical contacts 37-38 within the housing 33 for the purpose of making and breaking an electrical contact. Thus the valve 31 4can also control an electrical switch for the purpose of electrically controlling some additional unit (such as an overdrive mechanism) if this should be desirable.

Having described my invention, I claim:

l. A vacuum operated bleeder control comprising an upper housing, a lower housing, and a cylinder extending between and connecting said housings, a iexible diaphragm mounted in the upper housing, said housing and diaphragm defining a -chamber on one side of the diaphragm, means to evacuate said chamber, a iiexible diaphragm mounted in the lower chamber, said last named exible diaphragm `being larger in area than the rst named flexible diaphragm, said lower housing and diaphragm defining a chamber on one side of the last named diaphragm, means to evacuate the last named chamber, said last named means being restricted, said -flast named chamber having an `air bleed extending into the same, a post attached to both of the diaphragms and extending through said cylinder, a valve housing adjacent said cylinder, said valve housing having a chamber therein, a vacuum pipe extending into said last named chamber from a vacuum source, la second pipe extending from said last named chamber, said valve housing having an air bleed therein, and valve means in the last named chamber between the air bleed and said last named charniber to admit atmospheric air thereto, and means connecting said valve means to said post.

2. A vacuum operated bleeder control comprising an upper housing, a lower housing, and a cylinder extending between and connecting said housings, a flexible diaphragm mounted in the upper housing, said housing and diaphragm defining a chamber on one side of the diaphragm, means to evacuate said chamber, a exible diaphragm mounted in the lower chamber, said last named iiexible diaphragm being larger in area than the first named flexible diaphragm, said lower housing and diaphragm defining a chamber on one side of the last named diaphragm, means to evacuate the llast named chamber, said last named means being restricted, said last named chamber having an air bleed extending into the same, adjustment means in the air bleed to vary the size thereof, a post attached to both of the diaphragms and extending through said cylinder, a valve housing adjacent said cylinder, said valve housing having a chamber therein, a vacuum pipe extending into said last named chamber from a vacuum source, a second pipe extending from said `last named chamber, said valve housing having an air bleed therein, and valve means in the last named chamber between the air bleed and said last named chamber to admit atmospheric air theerto, and means connecting said valve means to said post.

3. A vacuum operated bleeder control comprising an upper housing, a lower housing, and a cylinder extending between and connecting said housings, a flexible diaphragm mounted in the upper housing, said housing and diaphragm defining a chamber on one side of the diaphragm, means to evacuate said chamber, a flexible diaphragm mounted in the lower chamber, said last named iiexible diaphragm being larger in area than the rst named flexible diaphragm, said lower housing and diaphragm deiining a chamber on one side ofthe last named diaphragm, means to evacuate the last named chamber, said last named means being restricted, said last named chamber having an air bleed extending into the same, a post attached to both of the diaphragms and extending through said cylinder, a valve housing adjacent said cylinder, said valve housing having a chamber therein, a Vacuum pipe extending into said last named chamber from a vacuum source, a second pipe extending from said last named chamber, said valve housing having an air bleed therein, and valve means in the last named chamber between the air bleed and said last named chambers to admit atmospheric air thereto, means connecting said valve means to said post.

4. A vacuum operated bleeder control comprising an upper housing, a lower housing, and a cylinder extending between and connecting said housings, a exible diaphragm mounted in the upper housing, said housing and diaphragm defining a chamber on one side of the diaphragm, means to evacuate said chamber, a ilexible diaphragm mounted in the lower chamber, said last named iexible diaphragm being larger in area than the lirst named flexible diaphragm, said lower housing and diaphragm dening a chamber on one side of the last named diaphragm, means to evacuate the l-ast named chamber, said last named means being restricted, said last named chamber having an air bleed extending Iinto the same, adjustment means in the air bleed to vary the size thereof, a post attached to both of the diaphragms and extending through said cylinder, a valve housing adjacent said cylinder, said valve housing having a chamber therein, a vacuum pipe extending into said iast named chamber from a vacuum source, a second pipe extending from said last named chamber, said valve housing having an air bleed therein, and valve means in the last named chamber between the air bleed and said last named chamber to Yadmit atmospheric air thereto, and means connecting said valve means to said post.

5. A vacuum operated bleeder control comprising an upper housing, a lower housing, and a cylinder extending between and connecting said housings, a ilexible diaphragm mounted in the upper housing, said housing and diaphragm defining a chamber on one side of the diaphragm, means to evacuate said chamber, a flexible diaphragm mounted in the lower chamber, said last named ilexible diaphragm being larger in area than the first named flexible diaphragm, said lower housing and diaphragm dening a chamber on one side of the last named diaphragm, means to evacuate the last named chamber, said last named means being restricted, said last named chamber having an air bleed extending into the same, a post attached to both of the diaphragms and extending through said cylinder, a valve housing, said valve housing being threaded into Ithe upper housing, said valve housing having a chamber in the lower end thereof, a valve seat in said last named chamber, a stem valve extending into the valve housing :and cooperating with the valve seat therein, means connecting the stem valve and the post, a vacuum pipe extending into said last named chamber from a vacuum source, a second pipe extending yfrom said last named chamber, and said valve housing having an air bleed therein positioned adjacent said valve seat whereby atmospheric air passing to the last named chamber is controlled by the stem valve.

6. A vacuum operated bleeder control comprising an upper housing, a lower housing, and a cylinder extending between and connecting said housings, a iiexble diaphragm mounted in the upper housing, said housing and diaphragm defining a chamber on one side of the diaphragm, means to evacuate said chamber, a flexible diaphragm mounted in the lower chamber, said last named flexible diaphragm being larger in area than the rst named ilexible diaphragm, said lower housing and diaphragm defining a chamber on one side of the last named diaphragm, means to evacuate the last named chamber, said last named means being restricted, said last named chamber having an air bleed extending into the same, adjustment means in the air bleed to vary the size thereof, a post attached to both of the diaphragms and extending through said cylinder, a valve housing, said valve housing being threaded into the upper housing, said valve housing having a chamber in the lower end thereof, a valve seat in said last named chamber ,a stem valve extending into the valve housing and cooperating with the valve seat therein, means connecting the stern valve and the post, a vacuum pipe extending into said last named chamber from a vacuum source, a second pipe extending from said last named chamber, and said valve housing having an air bleed therein positioned adjacent said valve seat whereby atmospheric air passing to the last named chamber is controlled by the stem valve.

No references cited. 

